Falcon 9 launch postponed until early Wednesday

The contrail of a SpaceX Falcon 9 was visible from San Diego on December 22nd when the rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The contrail of a SpaceX Falcon 9 was visible from San Diego on December 22nd when the rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. (Getty)

Gary Robbins

A Falcon 9 rocket will bolt into space from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc on Wednesday, producing a pre-dawn contrail that could be visible from San Diego County.

The Air Force says the rocket will lift off from Vandenberg at 6:17 a.m. on a mission to place Spain’s Paz earth imaging satellite into orbit. The launch could occur a bit later; 6:17 a.m. is the start of a launch window whose length hasn’t been specified.

“That would make the launch especially interesting as the Falcon 9’s exhaust plume is illuminated by the sun while suspended in a semi-dark sky. Such a display could be visible from San Francisco to Baja California.”

A similar launch in December produced a contrail that was broadly visible across San Diego County.